July, 2015

I am a former Soviet, smuggled over the Iron Curtain in my parent’s gonads like some Cold War technology and assembled in the USA. The other night, I was at the Alberta Street pub, listening to the musings of local Slavic rock band Chervona. I should have been drinking vodka. Instead, I was slowly nursing a New Belgium 1554 Black Lager for a period much shorter than my own gestation but surely a longer process than usual. It was like reading a fine book. Each sip was a page revealing another character. In a moment of emotional flavor, at only 5.6 ABV, I could feel the warmth of the beer moving slowly through me. Its nutty taste made me happy, and its chocolaty aftertaste gave me the feeling of being privileged, decadent, and pampered. Soon my bar stool buddy and I were having an intense discussion about the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. You would think that when two former Soviets discuss history, things might turn crazy quickly. But, since we were drinking craft beer and not vodka, the conversation stayed nice and calm. It dawned on me that the craft beer I was drinking is revolutionary in itself and that drinking…

It’s not that often that we here at PDX Magazine cover bands or artists that aren’t, shall I say, home grown. Dead Sara, however, is an exception. This rock band from Los Angeles has proven to be a crowd pleasing spectacle of raw energy, emotion, and soul that you’ll not want to miss. With the gritty and passionate vocals of Emily Armstrong mixed with the aggressively solid hitting rock sound of Siouxsie Medly, this high-octane rock n’ roll duo will electrify you where you stand. During their 2013 U.S. tour with Muse, Chicago Music Monthly stated, “Dead Sara is an example of everything that is right with rock and roll. Their live show is one that will not be forgotten for hundreds of Muse fans seeing them for the first time.” Having just launched their first tour in support of their sophomore album, “The Airport Sessions,” Dead Sara is set to take the country by storm. As Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) declared, “Dead Sara should be the next biggest rock band in the world.” And we think you should come out see why for yourself. When: July 14th, 2015 Where: The Star Theater (13 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97209) Tickets:…